Building structure

ABSTRACT

A low cost building of a post and beam structure in which prefabricated panels are splined together side-by-side to define both the exterior and interior walls, and as a result lath, plaster and stucco are not required. Panels of a unique structure are employed that are but approximately a third the thickness of conventional walls, but which panels have substantially the same sound and heat insulating values as the latter. The exterior wall panels are secured to the exterior surfaces of the posts to overlap sills recessed in the peripheral portion of the slab or conventional wood floor, and this structural feature, together with the thinness of the panels defining the interior wall, permits maximum usable living area to be attained from a foundationsupported floor. A building embodying the present invention has the construction costs thereof substantially reduced in that the panels are thin and relatively light in weight, are easy to handle, and are of such design that they may be readily secured to the posts and beams that are to define an exterior wall while the posts and beams are in a horizontal position. When the panels are secured to the post and beam wall structure, a completed exterior wall is provided, and the wall may be tilted as such into a vertical position where it is permanently secured to a wood sill that is recessed in a peripheral portion of the poured concrete slab or conventional wood floor. Interior walls are provided by splining the panels together with the upper portion of the interior walls being secured to the bottom truss chord of the roof structure, and the lower portions of the interior walls resting on redwood wood sills that overlie the center portion of clips of deformable sheet material that are flat, and have the center portion thereof anchored to the floor. After the interior walls and sills have been mounted on the clips, the exterior edge portions of the clips are bent or deformed upwardly to grip the sills and lower portions of the interior wall panels therebetween, with the interior wall panels now being anchored to both the floor and the bottom truss chords. After the interior walls have been so secured, ceiling finish material of a conventional nature is secured to the underportions of the bottom truss chords and extend between the interior wall panels and the exterior walls of the structure above described. The roof structure of free span trusses is totally supported by the post and beam structure of the exterior side walls, and as a result neither the panels that form a part of the exterior walls nor the interior panels that define interior walls are subjected to the roof load. The panels are formed with electrical wiring receways therein, and the connecting of panel-supported switches and outlet boxes to a source of electric power is a simple matter.

United States Patent 1 Wetzel, Jr.

[111 3,744,197 July 10,1973

[ BUILDING STRUCTURE [76] Inventor: Adolph H. Wetzel, Jr., 1937 Ritchey Avenue, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705 [22] Filed: Jan. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 221,291

[52] U.S. C1. 52/92, 52/220, 52/241, 52/586, 52/741 [51] Int. Cl. E04b 7/04, E04b 2/82 [58] Field of Search 52/92, 93, 220, 241, 52/238, 586, 615, 741

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,337,745 4/1920 Bassett 52/584 X 2,127,837 8/1938 Wenzel 52/241 X 2,378,275 6/1945 Williamson 52/92 2,633,439 3/1953 Konstandt..... 52/615 X 2,872,710 2/1959 Cox 52/615 X 3,165,792 1/1965 Pick... 52/615 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,173,349 10/1958 France 52/93 1,262,049 4/1961 France 52/615 677,986 7/1939 Germany 52/615 Primary Examiner-Alfred C. Perham Att0rneyWilliam C. Babcock [57] ABSTRACT A low cost building of a post and beam structure in which prefabricated panels are splined together sideby-side to define both the exterior and interior walls, and as a result lath, plaster and stucco are not required.

Panels of a unique structure are employed that are but approximately a third the thickness of conventional walls, but which panels have substantially the same sound and heat insulating values as the latter. The exterior wall panels are secured to the exterior surfaces of the posts to overlap sills recessed in the peripheral portion of the slab or conventional wood floor, and this structural feature, together with the thinness of the panels defining the interior wall, permits maximum usable living area to be attained from a foundation-supported floor.

A building embodying the present invention has the construction costs thereof substantially reduced in that the panels are thin and relatively light in weight, are easy to handle, and are of such design that they may be readily secured to the posts and beams that are to define an exterior wall while the posts and beams are in a horizontal position. When the panels are secured to the post and beam wall structure, a completed exterior wall is provided, and the wall may be tilted as such into a vertical position where it is permanently secured to a wood sill that is recessed in a peripheral portion of the poured concrete slab or conventional wood floor.

Interior walls are provided by splining the panels together with the upper portion of the interior walls being secured to the bottom truss chord of the roof structure, and the lower portions of the interior walls resting on redwood wood sills that overlie the center portion of clips of deformable sheet material that are flat, and have the center portion thereof anchored to the floor. After the interior walls and sills have been mounted on the clips, the exterior edge portions of the clips are bent or deformed upwardly to grip the sills and lower portions of the interior wall panels therebetween, with the interior wall panels now being anchored to both the floor and the bottom truss chords.

After the interior walls have been so secured, ceiling finish material of a conventional nature is secured to the underportions of the bottom truss chords and extend between the interior wall panels and the exterior walls of the structure above described. The roof structure of free span trusses is totally supported by the post and beam structure of the exterior side walls, and as a result neither the panels that form a part of the exterior walls nor the interior panels that define interior walls are subjected to the roof load.

The panels are formed with electrical wiring receways therein, and the connecting of panel-supported switches and outlet boxes to a source of electric power .is a simple matter.

7 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENTEflJuumsn 3.744197 I sum 1 us 5 FIGJ AHIHIII -FIG.6

PAIENTED JUL 1 OIBH 7 44, l 9 7 FIG.I8 3

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FIG.20

BUILDING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention Building structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, various types of prefabricated building panels have been proposed for use in the construction of residences and the like, in an effort to reduce construction costs. Such panels in the main have been unsuccessful in this regard, not only in that they were unduly heavy and bulky, but when a building is completed by the use of same, the building had a box-like, unattractive appearance.

The primary purpose in devising the present invention is to provide a low cost, high quality building that embodies a post and beam structure for the exterior walls thereof, and this structure so supporting the exterior panels that no roof load is directed on the latter.

An additional reason for devising the present invention is to provide a method of construction that reduces the cost of residences and the like in an amount as great as thirty to sixty percent of that when conventional building methods are employed, and also to reduce the labor and materials required in both the electrical wiring and plumbing of the building. The use of plaster, lath and stucco in the construction of a building embodying the present invention is completely eliminated. Material waste is substantially eliminated when the present invention is employed as the panels are prefabricated at a central location remote from the job side and are preprimed to further reduce labor and materials required in the painting thereof.

An additional reason for devising the present invention is to utilize panels of a unique design that are but a third of the thickness of conventional walls, and by the use of these panels in both the exterior and interior walls a foundation of smaller dimensions may be used than in conventional construction, yet achieve the same useful living areas as when a larger foundation is employed as in conventional construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A building structure, when employing a slab and foundation, has a sill recessed and flush with the slab therein extending around the periphery thereof. Exterior walls of a post and beam structure are employed, and with splined panels of but a third the thickenss of conventional walls secured thereto while the posts and beams are in a horizontal position, and the post, beam and panel secured thereto being pivoted as a unit to rest on the embedded sill to define an exterior wall section. The panels are of somewhat greater length than the posts and project downwardly from the free ends thereof, and as a result the panels extend over the exterior surface of the sills when the walls ofwhich they form a part are in an upright position. The downwardly projecting portions of the panels are secured to the sills by nailing or other fastening means.

The posts and beams support a roof structure of free span roof trusses. Interior walls of the building are defined by splined panels of the same type as used in the exterior walls, with the upper ends of the panels being secured to the bottom chords of the roof trusses, but the panels carrying no load, and the lower ends of the interior panels being secured to redwood sills that rest on flat, deformable metallic sheets that have the center portions thereof secured to the slab.

After the interior walls are positioned, opposite edge portions of the sheets are deformed upwardly to grip the lower portions of the interior panels therebetween. Openings are provided in the upwardly extending portions of the sheets which now define clips to permit nails, screws or the like to be extended through these openings to permanently engage the lower portions of the panels. The ceilings for the building are secured to the undersurface of the bottom chords of roof trusses and extend between the exterior and interior walls. The panels are of hollow reinforced structure and have vertically extending raceways therein through which electrical wiring can be extended to terminate in switches or outlet boxes secured from the panels.

A primary purpose in devising the present invention is to provide a building, such as a residence or the like, in which the on-site construction costs are reduced by as as much as 30 to 60 percent over that which results when conventional building methods are employed.

Another object of the invention is to supply a unique building panel of hollow reinforced structure in which raceways are provided for electrical wiring, the panels capable of being used to define both interior and exterior walls of the building, and the building capable of being completed without the use of lath, plaster and stucco.

Yet another object of the invention is to supply a building and method of erecting the same in which waste material is drastically reduced over that required when conventional building methods are employed.

A still further object of the invention is to supply a building and method of erecting the same in such a manner as to preclude any transmission of load from the rafters to the panels and the construction time being drastically reduced to the extent that an entire residence may be erected within but a period of a few days after the foundation is completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.' 1 is a perspective view of a building embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a wall panel used in the construction of the building, with portions of the panel broken away to show the interior structure thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the panel;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of a panel showing the wiring raceway and openings for electrical switches or outlet boxes therein;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one of the panels;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of one of the panels taken on the line -66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a second transverse cross-sectional view of one of the panels taken on the line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view-of the garage portion of the building taken on the line 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a second fragmentary transverse crosssectional view of the building taken on the line 99 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the building;

FIG. 11 is a third fragmentary transverse crosssectional view of the building taken on the line llll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a fourth fragmentary transverse crosssectional view of the building taken on the line 12l2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of two abutting panels keyed together and secured to a post to define a portion of the wall;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a portion of an interior wall secured to the floor by a deformable clip;

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an interior panel secured to a bottom chord of a roof truss;

FIG. 16 is a view of an exterior wall section supported from a post and beam structure situated above a conventional floor.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of floor-mounted, interior wall-engaging clips, with the clips having the sill of an interior wall resting thereon, and one of the clips having been bent to fully engage the sill and a lower portion of a panel;

FIG. 18 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of panels and posts pivotally supporting an exterior door;

FIG. 19 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of two spaced panels that support an interior door frame; and, FIG. 20 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of two spaced panels supporting a metallic dash.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A building A embodying the present invention is shown in perspective in FIG. 1. The building A is for purposes of illustrating a residence which includes living quarters 20 and an attached garage 22. The living quarters 20 of the building A are erected on a poured concrete slab 24 as shown in FIG. 9, which slab overlies an earth-supported waterproof sheet 26.

The exterior walls B of the building, as may be seen in FIG. 1, and the interior walls C, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, are formed by prefabricated rectangular panels Di The detailed structure of a panel D is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The living quarters of building A include a poured concrete footing 28 shown in FIG. 9 in which a number of spaced, upwardly extending rods 30 are partially em bedded. Rods 30 have upwardly projecting portions on which threads 32 are formed. A wood sill 34 is provided that rests on the upper outer surface of the footing 28. The sill 34 extends around the periphery of the building A, and as will later be seen forms a part of the usable living space therein. Sill 34 has holes drilled therein that engage threaded rod portions 32. The sill 34 is secured to the rods 30 by nuts 34b. The exterior vertical surface 34a of the sill is preferably vertically aligned with the exterior vertical surface of footing 28.

A footing 28 is shown in FIG. 8 that defines the periphery of the garage 22. An earth-supported concrete slab 36 is situated within the confines of the footing 28. Footing 28 supports a wood sill 34 by rods 30', as shown in FIG. 8, in the same manner as previously described with footing 28. Should it be desired, a wood floor may be employed as illustrated in FIG. 16 to extend between footings 28.

Each of the panels D is preferably fabricated at a cen-- tral location remote from the job site for reasons of economics in manufacture. Each panel D, as best seen in FIG. 2, is preferably rectangular in shape and is defined by two spaced parallel stiles 38 that are connected at the top and bottom by crosspieces 42, which crosspieces are secured to the stiles by dovetail connections 40.

The stiles 38 and crosspieces 42 have rectangular sheets 44 bonded to the exterior surfaces thereof, and the sheets cooperate with the stiles and crosspieces to define a confined space therebetween that is filled with wood curls 46, a paper honeycomb core or similar structured material for transverse reinforcing purposes. The confined space 45 may also be filled with polystyrene beads, urethane foam or like material that has good heat and sound insulating qualities if the environment in which the building A is situated renders such insulating factors desirable. The wood curls 46 or other reinforcing means are in abutting contact with the interior surfaces of the sheets 44.

The sheet material 44 may be of one eighth inch thickness, and for this purpose Super-Dorlux Masonite has been found satisfactory, although other materials of like physical characteristics may be used for this purpose.

The exterior surface of the stiles 38 have longitudinally extending grooves 38a formed therein, which groves, when the panels D are in abutting edge-to-edge relationship, may be engaged by splines 48 as shown in FIGS. l2, l3 and 14.

Each of the panels D, as may be seen in FIG. 2, has a vertically extending strip 50 disposed in the confined space 45, with the strip being inwardly spaced from the right hand stile 38 as viewed in FIG. 2, and cooperating with that stile to form an elongate raceway 52 within the panel through which electrical wiring (not shown) may be extended downwardly to openings 54 as shown in FIG. 4. The openings 54 are adapted to have conventional electrical switches or outlet boxes (not shown) disposed therein, and connected to the wiring (not shown) situated in the raceway 52. When the raceway is to be employed for holding electrical wire (not shown), an opening 56 is drilled in the upper cross piece 42 to permit the electrical wiring to be extended into the raceway.

The walls B of the building A are formed in sections with each section including a longitudinally extending beam 58 as shown in FIG. 10 that is secured to the upper ends of a number of parallel longitudinally extending posts 60. In assembling a wall section, the beam 58 and post 60 associated therewith are preferably laid on the ground or otherwise horizontally positioned, with the panels D being splined together and then secured to the beam 58 and post 60 by nails 62 as shown in FIG. 10.

The beam 58, posts 60 and panels D that are nailed thereto may now be tilted upwardly for the lower surfaces of the posts to rest on the upper surface 34b of a sill 34. It will be particularly noted in FIG. 9 that the panels D are of somewhat greater length than the posts 60, and as a result the panels extend downwardly over the exterior vertical surface 34a of the sills 34. The panels have the lower overlapping portion thereof secured to the sill 34 by nails or other fastening means (not shown). In FIG. 11 two exterior wall sections B-1 and 8-2 are shown that are defined by panels D, with the panels forming a corner. The panels are attached by nails or the like to a common corner post 64. Vertically extending batts 66 are secured to the adjacent end portions of the panels D to complete the corner structure as may best be seen in FIG. 11.

After the exterior walls have been erected as previously described, conventional wood trusses E as shown in FIG. may be positioned to extend between oppositely disposed beams 58, with the weight of the trusses being completely supported bythe beams 58 and posts 60 extending downwardly therefrom. The trusses E, as is conventional with such roof defining structures, includes horizontally extending joists 68 which rest on the upper surface of the beams 58 and are secured thereto by rails 70 as shown in FIG. 10. It will be particularly noted in FIG. 10 that the penals D are of such height that they do not contact the trusses E and accordingly no roof load can be transmitted to these panels. The trusses E have blocks 72 secured thereto, and these blocks when nails 74 are driven therethrough serve to lock the upper portion of the panels D between the blocks and beams 58. The trussesE support plywood sheeting 76 on the upper surfaces thereof, with the sheeting being secured to the trusses by nails 78 that extend through the sheeting into the blocks 72. The sheeting 76 serves as a base for a conventional roofing material such as shingles F or the like as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The interior walls C, as can best be seen in FIG. 12, are formed with panels D that are in abutting edge-toedge relationship and connected together by splines 48. The position of an interior wall C as shown in FIG. .12 is preferably such that one end vertically extending edge of the panel is in abutting contact with one of the posts 60 that forms a part of an exterior wall section B. The interior walls C arepreferably formed in sections of splined panels D only and are tilted into a vertical position after they have been assembled. Prior to the interior walls being positioned within the building A, a number of spaced sheets 80 of square or rectangular shape, and formed from a deformable metallic material, are laid on the upper surface of the floor 24 and withthe center of the sheets being secured to the floor by suitable fasteners 82. Redwood sills 81 that will partially define the interior walls C of building A are now secured to the lower portions of the panels D and extend over the center portions of the sheets 80. Redwood sills 81 serve to protect interior walls C from termites.

One edge portion 800 of each sheet 80 now may be bent upwardly as shown in FIG. 16, this bent portion serving as a stop when a completed interior wall C is tilted upwardly into a vertical position. After a wall C has been so positioned as shown in FIG. 17 a second edge portion 80b of the sheet 80 is bent upwardly, with the edge portions 80a and 80b cooperating with the central portion 80c of the sheet to provide a clip that extends over opposite sides of redwood sill 81 and lower portions of a panel D to lock the lower portion of the interior wall C in a fixed position relative to the floor 24. The edge portions 80a and 80b have openings 84 therein through which fasteners 86 can be extended into the wall C, as shown in FIG. 17. The upper ends of the wall C are adjacent to but not in abutting contact with the joists 68, and are secured thereto or to blocks (not shown) by nails 88 as illustrated in FIG. 15. After the interior walls C have been erected and secured in a fixed position relative to joists 68 and floor 24, conventional sheet ceiling material 90 may be secured to the lower surface of the joists 68 by conventional means. The upper ends of the panels D defining the interior walls C are spaced from the joists 68 to insure that no roofload will be transmitted by the joists to the panels.

Both the exterior wall sections B and interior wall sections C may have the panels D partially defining the same formed with openings therein in which door by frames may be secured as .well as sashes for windows. A typical exterior door structure is shown in FIG. 18, in which a milled door frame 92 is provided that is in abutting contact with ends of panels D, as well as posts 60, and is secured thereto by nails (not shown), or other conventional fastening means. The frame 92 has a door 94 pivotally supported therefrom by hinges 96, as shown in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 19 two interior wall sections C are spaced apart to provide an opening therebetween for an interior door frame 98, which door frame completely covers the ends of the panels D in which the spline receiving grooves 38a are formed. FIG. 20 illustrates an exterior wall section B in which the panels D defining the same are spaced sufficiently to permit a sash of conventional design to be situated therebetween.

The construction of a building embodying the present invention has been previously explained in detail, but may be summarized as follows.

A conventional concrete footing is poured, the footing having stud bolts partially embedded in the peripheral portion thereof, which bolts extend upwardly to engage a wood sill. A concrete slab or other conventional floor 24 is now formed to extend between the sills 34. The upper surface of the sills 34 are substantially flush with the upper surface of the floor 24 and the outer surface of the sills are preferably vertically aligned with the peripheral outer vertical edge portion of the footing 28. Exterior wall sections B are assembled from beams 58 that have longitudinally spaced posts 60 secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom. Splined panels D are secured to the exterior surface of the beams and posts, with the panels of such length as to extend downwardly below the free ends of the post a distance that is slightly less than the thickness of the sill.

After the side wall sections have been assembled as above described, they are tilted into vertical positions for the lower free ends of the posts to rest on the upper surfaces of the sill, with the portions of the panels that extend downwardly over the exterior surfaces of the sills being securedjthereto by nails or the like.

After the exteriqr walls B have been erected as above described, conventional roof trusses are provided to span the concrete slab and rest on the upper surfaces of the beams. The earns and posts of the exterior walls take the full weight of the roof structure thereon, and the panels defining a position of the exterior wall are subject to no downwardly directed load. After the roof trusses have been assembled, they are held in fixed spaced relationship by wood blocks that extend therebetween, the blocks projecting downwardly below the upper surfaces of the panels that form a part of the exterior side walls. The blocks have nails driven therethrough to lock the upper portions of the panels between the beams and blocks, and the blocks also serve as support for sheeting that rests on the upper surface of the trusses and which serves as a foundation for a conventional roof.

The interior walls C of the building A are defined by splined panels that have the upper edge portions thereof secured to joists that form a part of the roof structure but not in abutting contact therewith, the lower ends of the panels in the interior walls resting on a sill 81 that extends across the center of deformable metallic sheets 80 that have previously been secured to the floor 24. The sheets 80 and sill 81 are arranged in a pattern that coincides with the desired pattern in which the interior walls will be arranged. After the sheets have been secured as above described, one edge portion serves as a stop to align the assembled interior walls when the latter are pivoted upwardly to vertical positions to have the upper ends thereof secured in joists.

When the interior panels are so disposed, the second end portions of the sheets are bent upwardly, with the lower portions of the panel now being permanently locked between two upwardly extending legs of the sheets. Fastening means are extended through the upwardly extending sheet portions to engage the portion of the panels situated therebetween. Ceiling members may now be secured to the underside of the joists, to extend between the interior and exterior side walls.

Electrical wiring in the building fabricated as above described is through raceways formed in the panels, and the wire in the raceways are connected to switches and outlet boxes that are panel supported. Although the panels have been illustrated and described as containing wood spirals for reinforcing purposes, expanded materials may be used in lieu thereof if desired.

FIG. 16 illustrates the manner in which the invention may be incorporated into a building that employs a wood floor 124 rather than a poured concrete slab 24. Footings 128 support wood sills 134 by rods 130 as previously described. The area within the confines of the footings 128 is excavated. Concrete piers 102 are poured, on which concrete plinths 104 rest. Rods 106 that are partially embedded in the upper portions of the plinths 104 extend through openings in redwood blocks 108 to engage upwardly extending wood posts 1 10. The posts support spaced, horizontal girders 112 that have the ends thereof adjacently disposed to the footings 128 but not in contact therewith. The girders serve as supports for a tongue and groove subfloor 124a and underlayment l24b.

The subfloor 124a extends over the exterior wood sill 134 as may be seen in FIG. 16. The lower ends of the wall posts 60 rest on the peripheral portions of subfloor 124a, with the lower portions of the panels D extending downwardly over the outer surfaces of the subfloor 124a and sill 134, and secured thereto by conventional means. The sills 81 of the interior walls C rest on the upper surface of underlayment 124b, and are secured thereto by deformed sheets 80. The balance of the building is ofthe structure previously described.

I claim:

l. A building that comprises:

a. a floor structure that includes a wood sill of substantial width and depth recessed therein in such a pattern as to define the periphery of said building, said sill having an outer vertical surface and top horizontal surface that are both exposed, with said top surface being substantially flush with the balance of said floor;

b. a plurality of exterior perimeter walls of post and beam structure that have a plurality of splined panels secured to the exterior surfaces of said posts, said panels of such length as to extend outwardly from the free ends of said posts a distance that is substantially the depth of said sill;

c. first means for permanently securing said exterior perimeter walls to said sill, with said free ends of said posts resting on the upper horizontal surfaces of said sill to take the full roof load of said building, and the lower portions of said panels extending downwardly over the vertical exterior surfaces of said sill to be in abutting sealing contact therewith;

d. a roof structure that includes horizontal roof trusses, said trusses resting on the beams of said exterior perimeter walls and permanently secured thereto;

e. a plurality of interior walls defined by a plurality of splined panels that are secured to said trusses but not in abutting contact therewith and extend downwardly therefrom to the upper surface of said floor, with each of said interior walls including an insect-resistant wood sill on the bottom portion thereof;

. a plurality of square or rectangular sheets of a deformable metallic material that initially lie flat on the upper surface of said floor and have the center portions thereof permanently secured thereto, said sheets longitudinally spaced and arranged in a pattern to coincide with the pattern of said interior walls, and said sheets operating as clips to anchor the lower portions of said interior walls to said floor when said sheets are deformed to have opposite edge portions thereof extend upwardly over opposite side portions of said insect-resistant wood sills; and

g. ceiling defining means secured to the under portions of said trusses and in abutting contact with said interior walls and the upper interior surfaces of said exterior walls.

2. A building as defined in claim 1 in which each of said panels in said perimeter walls includes:

h. a generally rectangular frame that includes two parallel spaced stiles that are connected on the ends by two crosspieces, said stiles on the outer surfaces thereof having longitudinal grooves therein;

. two rectangular sheets of rigid material secured to the exterior side surfaces of said stiles and crosspieces to cooperate therewith to define a confined space;

j. transverse reinforcing means disposed in said confined space and in abutting contact with the interior surfaces of said sheets, said reinforcing means but partially filling said confined space; and

k. a plurality of elongate splines that concurrently engage adjacently disposed grooves in said stiles to interlock said panels together when said panels are disposed edge'to edge and secured to said'post and beam structure.

3. A building as defined in claim 2 which in addition includes:

l. a quantity of particled material having good heat and sound insulating qualities packed in said confined space about said wood reinforcing means to minimize the transmission of heat and sound through said exterior walls. 7

4. A building as defined in claim 1 in which each of said panels in said perimeter walls includes:

h. a generally rectangular frame that includes two parallel spaced stiles that are connected on the ends by two crosspieces, saidstiles on the outer surface thereof having longitudinal grooves therein;

. two rectangular sheets of rigid material secured to the exterior side surfaces of said stiles and crosspieces to cooperate therewith to define a confined space;

. reinforcing means situated in said confined space k. a plurality of elongate glue-coated splines that concurrently engage adjacently disposed grooves in said stiles to permanently interlock said panels together when said panels are disposed edge-to-edge and secured to the exterior surface of said post and beam structure.

5. A building as defined in claim 2 in which each of said panels further includes a strip that is situated in said confined space and extends between the inner surfaces of said cross pieces and is laterally spaced from one of said stiles, with said strip, stile and the interior surface of said sheets and the interior surfaces of said crosspieces cooperating to define a raceway in which electrical wiring may be disposed that is connectable to a switch or outlet when the latter are mounted in openings formed in said sheets.

6. A building as defined in claim 1 in which each of the panels of said interior walls includes:

h. a generally rectangular frame that includes two parallel spaced stiles that are connected on the ends by two crosspieces, said stiles on the outer surfaces thereof having longitudinal grooves therein;

. two rectangular sheets of rigid material secured to the exterior side surfaces of said stiles and crosspieces to cooperate therewith to define a confined space;

. a plurality of transversely disposed wood curls disposed side-by-side in said confined space and in abutting contact with the interior surfaces of said sheets for reinforcing purposes; and

. a plurality of elongate splines that concurrently en gage adjacently disposed grooves in said stiles to interlock said panels together when said panels are disposed edge-to-edge and secured to said post and beam structure.

7. A method of forming a building that comprises the following steps:

a. forming a footing in a pattern to define the periphery of said building;

b. mounting a wood sill of substantial width and depth on the upper outer surface of said footing and securing said sill thereto;

c. forming a floor that is supported by said footing and situated within the confines of said sill;

d. securing a number of parallel spaced posts to a beam to partially define a section of an exterior wall of said building;

. securing a plurality of rectangular panels to the exterior surfaces of said beam and post sections, with said panels extending downwardly below the free ends of said posts a distance that is substantially the same as the depth of said sill;

. tilting said post and beam sections with said panels secured thereto to a position where the lower ends of said posts rest on said sill and the lower portions of said panels extend downwardly over the outer vertical surface of said sill;

g. securing the portions of said panels extending downwardly over said sills thereto and in so doing securing said exterior wall sections to said floor;

h. securing a plurality of spaced sheets of deformable material to the upper surface of said floor in a pattern that coincides with the desired pattern for the interior walls of said building;

i. forming a plurality of interior wall sections by splining a plurality of rectangular panels together;

j. securing a roof structure that includes a plurality of spaced roof trusses to the upper surface of said beams out of contact with said panels that form a part of the exterior walls of said building;

k. bending opposite side portions of said sheets upwardly to engage opposite lower side portions of said panels in said interior walls to anchor said interior wall panels to said floor;

. securing the upper edge portions of said interior wall panels to said roof trusses, but not in roof loadbearing contact therewith; and

in. securing ceiling defining material to the undersurface of said roof trusses to extend between said interior walls and exterior walls. 

1. A building that comprises: a. a floor structure that includes a wood sill of substantial width and depth recessed therein in such a pattern as to define the periphery of said building, said sill having an outer vertical surface and top horizontal surface that are both exposed, with said top surface being substantially flush with the balance of said floor; b. a plurality of exterior perimeter walls of post and beam structure that have a plurality of splined panels secured to the exterior surfaces of said posts, said panels of such length as to extend outwardly from the free ends of said posts a distance that is substantially the depth of said sill; c. first means for permanently securing said exterior perimeter walls to said sill, with said free ends of said posts resting on the upper horizontal surfaces of said sill to take the full roof load of said building, and the lower portions of said panels extending downwardly over the vertical exterior surfaces of said sill to be in abutting sealing contact therewith; d. a roof structure that includes horizontal roof trusses, said trusses resting on the beams of said exterior perimeter walls and permanently secured thereto; e. a plurAlity of interior walls defined by a plurality of splined panels that are secured to said trusses but not in abutting contact therewith and extend downwardly therefrom to the upper surface of said floor, with each of said interior walls including an insect-resistant wood sill on the bottom portion thereof; f. a plurality of square or rectangular sheets of a deformable metallic material that initially lie flat on the upper surface of said floor and have the center portions thereof permanently secured thereto, said sheets longitudinally spaced and arranged in a pattern to coincide with the pattern of said interior walls, and said sheets operating as clips to anchor the lower portions of said interior walls to said floor when said sheets are deformed to have opposite edge portions thereof extend upwardly over opposite side portions of said insect-resistant wood sills; and g. ceiling defining means secured to the under portions of said trusses and in abutting contact with said interior walls and the upper interior surfaces of said exterior walls.
 2. A building as defined in claim 1 in which each of said panels in said perimeter walls includes: h. a generally rectangular frame that includes two parallel spaced stiles that are connected on the ends by two crosspieces, said stiles on the outer surfaces thereof having longitudinal grooves therein; i. two rectangular sheets of rigid material secured to the exterior side surfaces of said stiles and crosspieces to cooperate therewith to define a confined space; j. transverse reinforcing means disposed in said confined space and in abutting contact with the interior surfaces of said sheets, said reinforcing means but partially filling said confined space; and k. a plurality of elongate splines that concurrently engage adjacently disposed grooves in said stiles to interlock said panels together when said panels are disposed edge to edge and secured to said post and beam structure.
 3. A building as defined in claim 2 which in addition includes: l. a quantity of particled material having good heat and sound insulating qualities packed in said confined space about said wood reinforcing means to minimize the transmission of heat and sound through said exterior walls.
 4. A building as defined in claim 1 in which each of said panels in said perimeter walls includes: h. a generally rectangular frame that includes two parallel spaced stiles that are connected on the ends by two crosspieces, said stiles on the outer surface thereof having longitudinal grooves therein; i. two rectangular sheets of rigid material secured to the exterior side surfaces of said stiles and crosspieces to cooperate therewith to define a confined space; j. reinforcing means situated in said confined space and in abutting contact with the interior surfaces of said sheets, said reinforcing means having good sound and heat insulating qualities to minimize the transfer of heat and sound through said perimeter walls; and k. a plurality of elongate glue-coated splines that concurrently engage adjacently disposed grooves in said stiles to permanently interlock said panels together when said panels are disposed edge-to-edge and secured to the exterior surface of said post and beam structure.
 5. A building as defined in claim 2 in which each of said panels further includes a strip that is situated in said confined space and extends between the inner surfaces of said cross pieces and is laterally spaced from one of said stiles, with said strip, stile and the interior surface of said sheets and the interior surfaces of said crosspieces cooperating to define a raceway in which electrical wiring may be disposed that is connectable to a switch or outlet when the latter are mounted in openings formed in said sheets.
 6. A building as defined in claim 1 in which each of the panels of said interior walls includes: h. a generally rectangular frame that includes two parallel spaced stiles that are connected on the enDs by two crosspieces, said stiles on the outer surfaces thereof having longitudinal grooves therein; i. two rectangular sheets of rigid material secured to the exterior side surfaces of said stiles and crosspieces to cooperate therewith to define a confined space; j. a plurality of transversely disposed wood curls disposed side-by-side in said confined space and in abutting contact with the interior surfaces of said sheets for reinforcing purposes; and k. a plurality of elongate splines that concurrently engage adjacently disposed grooves in said stiles to interlock said panels together when said panels are disposed edge-to-edge and secured to said post and beam structure.
 7. A method of forming a building that comprises the following steps: a. forming a footing in a pattern to define the periphery of said building; b. mounting a wood sill of substantial width and depth on the upper outer surface of said footing and securing said sill thereto; c. forming a floor that is supported by said footing and situated within the confines of said sill; d. securing a number of parallel spaced posts to a beam to partially define a section of an exterior wall of said building; e. securing a plurality of rectangular panels to the exterior surfaces of said beam and post sections, with said panels extending downwardly below the free ends of said posts a distance that is substantially the same as the depth of said sill; f. tilting said post and beam sections with said panels secured thereto to a position where the lower ends of said posts rest on said sill and the lower portions of said panels extend downwardly over the outer vertical surface of said sill; g. securing the portions of said panels extending downwardly over said sills thereto and in so doing securing said exterior wall sections to said floor; h. securing a plurality of spaced sheets of deformable material to the upper surface of said floor in a pattern that coincides with the desired pattern for the interior walls of said building; i. forming a plurality of interior wall sections by splining a plurality of rectangular panels together; j. securing a roof structure that includes a plurality of spaced roof trusses to the upper surface of said beams out of contact with said panels that form a part of the exterior walls of said building; k. bending opposite side portions of said sheets upwardly to engage opposite lower side portions of said panels in said interior walls to anchor said interior wall panels to said floor; l. securing the upper edge portions of said interior wall panels to said roof trusses, but not in roof load-bearing contact therewith; and m. securing ceiling defining material to the undersurface of said roof trusses to extend between said interior walls and exterior walls. 